Gravity actuated writing instrument



May 28, 1957 l. N. BENSON ETAL 2,793,618 v GRAVITY ACTUATED WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. l0, 1953 .a .n R vN 0 I7 R mmaqm m ESG www W M NMQWW/ G mm, .if Y B O s 4 8 2 United States Patent 2,793,618 GRAVITY AcrUArnnf WRITING INSTRUMENT Irving N. Benson, Hollywood, and Jerome P. Vogel, Los Angeles, Calif.,rassignors, by mesne assignments, to Streamer Pen Company, Inc., Culver City, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 10, 1953, Serial No. 373,223

Claims. (Cl. 12d-42.03)

This invention relates to a mechanical movement, and more particularly toa mechanical movement for a writing instrument, having a unique and etlicient mechanism for a propel-repel type writing unit, Vand has to do especially with a device of this character wherein the writing element is propelled from a retracted position within a holder to a `projected i or writing position; where the writing point projects externally of the holder through the simple means of gravity, in response to ponting the` holder, either upwardly to retract or downwardly to project outwardly.

This invention differs from those now known, such as the device disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,587,935, March 4, 1952, to Wallace, in that the vtubular ball pen element requires no additional part or portion, attached to, or forming a part of, the ink containing tube in order to make the same operative.

This invention is directed to a` ball pen having a ball point writing tip forming the one end of `a tubular ink retaining cartridge; novel mechanism for locking the same in writing position, and for `releasing the same to retracted position; all contained within a holder.

The novel features of our invention contributing to the case of assembly and operation of a propel-repel writing instrument will be apparent from reading the following detailed description and illustrated embodiments of the lnvention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the writing element in retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the writing element locked in its exposed writing position.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line d-i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the slidable writing element locking member.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals and ref erence wherein like numerals correspond to like parts, numeral 5 indicates an elongated barrel or writing element holder, which preferably is made of a plastic material. However, metal or any other suitable material may be used in place of plastic. The said barrel 5 is composed of two parts, a lower or inner end 6 and an upper or outer end portion 7; that is, portion 6 is the lower portion and 7 is the upper portion when the writing element is retracted, however, when the writing element is exposed in Writing position, portion 6 becomes the upper portion and portion 7 becomes the lower portion. The said portions 6 and 7 are detachably secured together preferably by means of the external threads 8 of portion 6 and the internal threads 9 of portion 7 and when screw-threaded together, form the barrel or writ ing element holder 5. The barrel portion 7 has a tapered outer end 11 and an inner shoulder portion 12.

A conventional clip 13 is secured adjacent the tapered end 11.

Intermediate the ends o' barrel portion 6, the internal i Patented May 28, 1957 'ice 2 wall 14 is provided with an outwardly lfacing shoulder 15 which provides the lower'end of portion 6 with a relatively reduced internal diameter 16.

In barrel portion 6 is sleeve 17, shaped to conform to the internal diameter of the barrel wall 16. One end of the sleeve 17 is provided with an annular ared portion 18 and is secured to the reduced internal diameter wall 16 by any suitable means, such as a press tit orV by a` sealing compound. The annular ared portion 18 is in abutting relation with the shoulder 15.

`free of burrs or roughness.

The ink containing tube 23 is larger in diameter than the inner end tapered shoulder portion 12.

A slidablelocking element member 27, best illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, is of particular importance to the instant invention.

The locking member 27 is preferably of a weighty material, such as a `die casting, a round metal rod, a

` powdered metallurgy product, or other similar substance,

`and `is preferably of `an `elongated circular form, except for the guide and locking portions, which are relatively flat.

Adjacent one end ofthe locking member 27 is a sleeve or a diameter step 28 forming a shoulder 29. The purpose of the `shoulder will become apparent as the description continues. The oppositerend of the said lockingmember 27 is` formed `in a flattened guide portion 31; the guide portion being parallel `to the outer wall of locking member 27,\the end of which is faired into the said wall of member `27. At a suitable distance fromthe faired portion `is a non-wedging angular step32, the said step fairs into a` guide 33, which is also parallel to the outer wall of member 27. The length of the guide 33 is relatively short as compared to the other guide portion 31 and the wedge or l-ocking portion `34, which is in angu- -lar relation with the outer wall of member 27. The said wedge or locking portion 34..may `continue to the wall of the member 27, or it may be cut olf `at right angles thereto, as at 3S. It is preferred tocut oil the same at right angles in order to `gain weight for the member 27, as weight of this member is` of importance,

The device, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, is in an i inverted or retracted position,` which is the normal position in which the pen is carried in the pocket. It should be noted that clip 13 is` secured adjacent the writing end of the pin, thus, in this position, the writing element 22 drops into the barrel by gravity, its inward movement being arrested by contacting the step `32 of the slidable locking member 27, the saidmember resting on the intei-nal end 36 of the lower or inner endof the barrel portion 6.

When the pen is to be used for writing, the barrel 5 is reversed, end for end, as is best illustrated in Fig. 2 in which position the open end of the *barrel 5 is disposed downwardly.

`In this position, the `writing element 22 slides downwardly until the shoulder 24a of the writing element 22 contacts the inner shoulder 12 and remains in abutting relation therewith until the device is again inverted.

As the `writing element 22 slides downwardly, it is followed by the slidable locking member 27, the angular step 32 starts moving the top portion of thewriting member 22 toward the flared end 18 of the sleeve 17, and as 3 'the locking member 27 continues its downward travel, the wedge 34 locks the topportion of member 22 in extended Writing position; i. e., a part of the top 30 is wedged 'against the ared end 18 of the sleeve 17 and the wedge Yor locking portion. 34.

When 4it is desired to retract the writing element 22, the lbarrel 5 is inverted,-end for end.

The slidable locking member 27 moves back into and rests against the end portion 36; at the same time the writing element 22 moves back in the barrel and the end 30 rests on the angular step 32 of the slidable locking element 27, as best illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 2, the locking member 27 is substantially smaller in cross-section than the portion of the inside of thebarrel in which it is received. With this construction, the locking member 27 rests in a cocked or axially inclined position with respect to the 'barrel 6 when the wedge 34 retains the writing element 22 in locked position. When the pen is inverted, the locking member 27 slides downwardly along the innermost corner of shoulder 18 and tends to uncock or rotate about such corner as a fulcrum toward an axially aligned position. This movement tends to loosen the wedge and permit it substantially instantaneously to become disengaged from between the writing element 22 and the inner wall of the barrel and freely drop by gravity to the extreme inner end of the barrel.

When a new writing element is to be inserted, the portions 6 and 7 are unscrewed or separated, the writing element 22 removed and a new writing element inserted into the barrel.

The locking member 27 is prevented from falling out of the barrel when the two parts of the barrel are separated by the shoulder 29 contacting the edge 21 of the sleeve 17.

It should also be noted that the function of the guide 31 is to prevent the member 27 from falling or sticking in the open end of the writing element 22.

The wide locking angles of the wedge 34 and the angle `of the ared end 18 of sleeve 17 or outwardly facing annular angular shoulder is of extreme importance to the economical manufacture of this invention, which obviously permits wide latitude in the distance from the shoulder 24a of the writing tip 24 and the open end 30 of the writing element 22, thus eliminating the necessity of holding an extremely close tolerance betwee nthe two abovementioned parts, namely, shoulder 24a and open end 30 of the writing element 22.

Although the invention has been described in connecare susceptible of numerous other applications which will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is therefore to 'be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a pen device comprising a barrel open at its outer end, an elongated writing element having a square cut open end mounted in the barrel, to move axially by gravity through said open outer end, means limiting axial movement of the writing element relative to the barrel, the said barrel having an angular outwardly facing shoulder within and between the ends of the said barrel, a weight mem- Iber to move axially by gravity positioned in the inner end of the barrel, the said weight member at its lower end having an elongated iiattened `guide portion parallel to the outer wall thereof, the said guide portion fairing into an angular step, the said step fairing into a second attened portion parallelx to said outer wall, the second flattened portion fairing into an angular wedge portion, the said angular step being so formed as to urge the open end of the writin-g element into engagement with the angular shoulder and the wedge portion securing the writing element thereon when the outer end of the barrel is pointed downwardly, and being disengageable therefrom when therbarrel is pointed upwardly.

2. A pen device which comprises a barrel having an inner closed end, an open outer end, and an inclined shoulder formed on the inner wall intermediate the ends thereof, said shoulder facing longitudinally outwardly of said barrel; an elongated writing cartridge substantially smaller in cross-section than the inside of said barrel and mounted therein to move axially by gravity, said writing cartridge having a writing end adapted to protrude through said open outer end of the barrel when said pen is positioned for writing with its open end directed downwardly and an inner end enclosed within the barrel and laterally movable into locking engagement with said shoulder; means limiting the movement of said cartridge through said open outer end; a weight member positioned within the inner closed end of said barrel adjacent the inner end of said cartridge and freely movable axially in said barrel by gravity, said weight member being substantially smaller in cross-section than the portion of the inside of said barrel in which it is received, said weight member having a face on one side angularly inclined with respect to the axis of said barrel to form a wedge with the thick end of said wedge being positioned nearest the inner closed end of the barrel and the thin end of said wedge being positioned opposite thereto, said inclined face being disposed adjacent the inner end of said cartridge, the thin end of said wedge being sufliciently small as to freely pass by gravity through the lateral space between the inner tween the inner end of said cartridge yand the inner wall of said barrel; and means providing a fulcrum between said weight member and the inner wall of said barrel opposite the place of engagement of said inner cartridge end with said shoulder, said weight member pivoting about said fulcrum as it falls by ygravity toward the inner closed end of said vbarrel when said pen is inverted, thus quickly removing said wedge from between said barrel inner wall and cartridge inner end, said cartridge then moving to a retracted position.

3. A pen 4device as recited in claim 2 wherein said weight member has an elongated tongue extending axially outwardly from said wedge section tand being elongated suiciently so that the terminal end thereof is positioned intermediate the ends of the cartridge when the cartridge occupies .either of the retracted or protruding positions to thereby prevent the weight member from catching against the inner end of the cartridge.

4, A pen device as recited in claim 3 wherein the inner end of said cartridge is open and said intermediate positioning of said elongated tongue prevents the weight member from entering said open end.

5. A pen device which comprises a barrel having an inner closed end, 1an open outer end, and an inclined annular shoulder formed on the inner wall intermediate the ends thereof, said shoulder facing longitudinally outtwardly of said barrel; an elongated writing cartridge substantially smaller in cross-section than the inside of said barrel and mounted therein to move axially by gravity, said writing cartridge having a writing end adapted to protrude through said open outer end of the barrel when said pen is positioned for Writing with its open end directed downwardly and lan inner end enclosed within the barrel and laterally movable into locking engagement with said shoulder; means limi-ting the movement of said cartridge through said open outer end; and a weight member positioned within the inner closed end of said barrel adjacent the inner end of said cartridge and freely movable axially in said barrel by gravity, said weight member being substantially smaller in cross-section than the portion of the inside of said barrel in which it is received, said weight member having a face on one side angulanly inclined with respect to the axis of said barrel to 'form a wedge with the thick end of said Wedge being positioned nearest the inner closed end ofthe barrel and the thin end of said Wedge being positioned opposite thereto, said inclined face being disposed radjacent the inner end of said cartridge, the thin end of said wedge being suiciently small as to freely pass by gravity through the lateral space between the inner end of said cartridge and lthe portion of said shoulder opposite the place of engagement therewith of said inner cartridge end, the

thick end of said wedge being too 'large topass through said space so that said wedge moves the `inn-er end of said cartridge and retains it in locking engagement with said shoulder when said pen is in writing position, said weight 'member being axially inclined with respect to said barrel when said wedge is engaged between the inner end of said cartridge and said shoulder, said weight member piv-` References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,935 Wallace Mar. 4, 1952 2,676,569 Schrader Apr. 27, 1954 2,693,170 Sears Nov. 2, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 74,684

Sweden Apr. 28, 1931 

